Unexpectedly Gaining the First Skill

[Radiant Flower]

[Category: Material]

[Despite its vibrant color, it contains deadly radiation. Perhaps something can be made with it.]

"Material."

Thin Dog touched the bridge of his nose, then nodded.

"Right, since the game has a crafting system, it naturally has a synthesis system. It's probably for synthesizing new items?"

Demonic Fox held the [Radiant Flower] and asked the machine's display screen.

"Excuse me, how can we use this material?"

Zero: "Materials can be used in equipment crafting to add extra stats to new equipment. This material might also be used to craft some kind of inlay, provided you find the corresponding recipe."

"Got it! Thanks."

Lin Tang grabbed a flower from the top and handed it to Xiao Xiao.

"You owe us a spear, try adding this when you craft it."

Xiao Xiao: "Uh, but my crafting process doesn't include adding flowers. Oh well, it's a game anyway. I'll try crushing the flower and smearing it on the weapon."

Thin Dog and his companions collected 12 [Radiant Flowers]. They gave one to Xiao Xiao and temporarily stored the remaining 11.

Lin Tang muttered to himself, "Next time we go to the Great Radiation Pit, we'll collect more. As long as it's a material, hoarding it can't be wrong."

The other four agreed wholeheartedly.

Hoarders never lose!

Xiao Xiao took the flower and began crafting a new stone spear.

Forgiveness Hat didn't have this skill, so he felt awkward asking for Thin Dog's biological raw materials directly. He borrowed a crowbar and went down the mountain by himself.

Thin Dog was also generous enough to share his game experience from his two logins with Forgiveness Hat.

This was the pioneering stage, and resources were scarce. Thin Dog and the other two unanimously agreed that players needed to unite to develop faster.

Especially when dealing with a Raider camp with dozens of members, it was impossible to fight with too few people.

Thin Dog glanced at the time. "It's almost time. Let's quickly decompose the loot. Oh right, leave one Raider corpse for Xiao Xiao. Let's try decomposing mutated animals to see what good items we can get."

"Mhm, I was thinking the same. Based on general game experience, the drop rates and loot will definitely differ between different creatures."

The three helped Xiao Xiao put a Raider corpse into the [Clone Production Pod]. Xiao Xiao's quest progress became: 1/3.

Then, the three placed a Raider corpse, a Mutated Hyena, and a Mutated Vampire Rabbit on the [Loot Generator].

Demonic Fox: "Wait! Something's wrong."

"We can't decompose all of them, because mutated animals are different from Raiders. They are resources themselves and can be used without conversion. For example, their hides can be used as materials for making clothes and armor, and their meat can be used as food, or even traded whole with the caravan."

Lin Tang also remembered the trade with the caravan that morning.

"Although I didn't understand what the caravan was saying... these hunted animals should be hard currency, exchangeable for various resources. Thinking about it that way... hunted animals do have intrinsic value."

"Then let's decompose a Mutated Hyena first. After all, bunnies are so cute, they must be delicious!"

Thin Dog made the final decision and took out the large mutated rabbit, which stood nearly 1 meter tall, from the decomposition pod.

"Although these genetically mutated creatures look somewhat monstrous, they should taste good. After all, they're wild, so the texture and chewiness will definitely be great."

Demonic Fox shook his head. "If there are no special requirements and it's just to fill our stomachs, I think it's better to exchange them for Beans, which provide a strong sense of fullness. At least they're convenient to store, and you get more when you exchange them, allowing us to replenish stamina multiple times."

Lin Tang: "Hu Da's point is valid. If we want to eat something, we can just order takeout in reality. In the game, as long as our stomachs are full, it doesn't matter if we eat shit or meat."

Demonic Fox's mouth twitched. ".You don't have to eat shit."

"Ahem! Anyway, let's decompose these two first."

After clicking start, the three waited for a moment, and the machine's conveyor belt brought out the loot.

Two loot items from the Raiders: a potion and a necklace.

[Advancing Bone Amulet]

[Quality: Fine]

[+14 Attack Capability]

[+3 Health Regeneration per Second]

The loot from the Mutated Hyena was only one item.

A slender red bone spur.

[Serrated Spike]

[Inlay (Can be used on all weapons, shields, and off-hand magical instruments)]

[3 Piercing Damage]

[9 Bleed Damage over 3 seconds]

[+12% Bleed Damage]

[Grant Skill: Armor Piercing Aura]

[Enhances your and your teammates' attacks, allowing them to penetrate armor. Range: 10 meters. This skill must remain active to be effective.]

[Activating it will reduce your maximum energy by 50 and consume 1 energy per second.]

[7 Pierce Damage]

[+25% Pierce Damage]

Lin Tang: "Holy crap? A top-tier drop? Two top-tier drops at once? Amazing!"

The Demonic Fox began analyzing the equipment.

"The amulet goes around the neck, so the bonus won't conflict with the rings. If this 3 points of life regeneration speed is used well, it can help our team recover health quickly in the wild. As for the Attack Capability stat... Thin Dog, what do you think? Is the bonus significant?"

Thin Dog affirmed, "The bonus is very significant. During combat, I react faster and deal damage beyond my expectations. It's like being in a hyper-awareness state, you know? When people face immense danger, their brains go into overdrive. They become incredibly clear-headed, everything appears in slow motion, and they can make quick, accurate decisions instantly. While the increase in Attack Capability isn't that exaggerated, it's heading in that direction."

"I predict that if my Attack Capability can be stacked very high, I'll be able to enter a hyper-awareness state directly."

"So, even though Attack Capability doesn't directly boost strength stats like weapons and rings, it plays a very important role."

The Demonic Fox nodded repeatedly, listening.

"Thin Dog, you're still the professional, as expected of a rich guy with a personal trainer. In that case, can Attack Capability be considered a strength enhancer? If it's stacked high, it can allow you to fight at a level beyond your inherent abilities. Am I understanding this correctly?"

"Exactly! Hu Da really knows how to summarize."

Lin Tang directly interjected, "Alright, alright, let's fast-forward to assigning this amulet to Thin Dog. I get it. Let's look at this thing properly. Wow, the stats this one inlay provides are equivalent to two pieces of gear. This is too overpowered!"

He held the slender red bone spur in his hand, which felt extremely tough.

The stats on it made the three of them gasp in amazement.

Thin Dog: "The base stats it adds are decent. If the bleeding damage accumulates, it should be quite considerable. But overall, it's not much different from the [Boiling Blood] dropped by the Raider. However, it comes with a passive aura skill, which is pretty awesome. One person equips it, and the whole team gets a bonus! I didn't expect our first skill wouldn't be learned from an NPC, but granted by an inlay."

"Let me quickly calculate the actual bonus. For me personally, it adds 10 pierce damage. With a 25% increase, that's an extra 12.5 stable pierce damage with every hit. Our own base attack is only 10 points, and the weapon Xiao Xiao crafted is only 10-20 attack power. Add in the 3.3 bleeding damage per second, and this is like getting another weapon!"

"The bonus for teammates calculates to about 8.75 pierce damage. Everyone's output will collectively improve by one tier!"

The Demonic Fox nodded and then shook his head, "Your calculation is correct, but... you overlooked that the weapon Xiao Xiao crafted already has a 5-7 pierce damage bonus. So, the benefit from this 25% will be even higher."

Lin Tang: "Hiss~~ Then I'll really be able to go on a killing spree?"

As the three marveled, Cheng Shaofeng walked over.

"Soldiers, it's getting dark. You should rest."

"Ah! I haven't had enough fun yet!"

"That's an order. You have 3 minutes to pack your things."

"Alright then."

The three collected their spoils into the makeshift hut they had built and then lay down together.

[Players African Thin Dog, Ghost Face Demon Fox, and Lin Tang have logged off]

Cheng Shaofeng turned his head and saw Xiao Xiao, who was still polishing a weapon, looking at him pitifully.

"Lord, I... I just logged on for a little while."

"Soldier, the nights in the Wasteland are very dangerous. However, if you don't go down the mountain, I can allow you to stay in the base for a bit longer."

"Thank you! I'll just make weapons here!"

Xiao Xiao excitedly continued to grind the [Radiant Flower].

The setting sun cast its rays, and the sky gradually darkened. Another player, Mr. Forgiven Hat, hadn't returned yet.

Cheng Shaofeng felt a bit worried.

"With his abilities, he should return safely, right?"

Tonight, the leaders of all Raider camps in the Four Mountains area and its surroundings received signals to head towards the Great Radiation Pit.

Another chapter later tonight.